I wish to meet Mike Trout

Mike
,
15

The moment Mike stepped on the field of Angels Stadium, his face lit up with pure joy. After three years of battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia, he was very excited to be trading in a meeting with a doctor to a meeting with Angels All-Star Mike Trout.

When he was diagnosed in 2011, Mike had to put his life as a sixth grade baseball player on hold because of treatment. Despite all the doctor’s appointments and chemotherapy, he continued to stay strong and didn’t let his condition keep him from rooting on the Angels. Mike couldn’t believe it when he found out that Make-A-Wish was going to make his wish of meeting his favorite baseball player come true.

Trout welcomed him to the field with a big smile and a handshake. Mike smiled and laughed nervously as they began talking about baseball together. Just before batting practice, Trout then gave him a new pair of the same batting gloves he uses during games and met his whole family in the dugout to take photos. Mike was so excited to stand next to a player he’s admired for so long.

“He’s really nice and I was really nervous,” Mike said excitedly after Trout left to continue pre-game practice.

The Angels treated him like a fellow teammate as they watched him cherish each moment of the experience. Angels manager Mike Scioscia, and players Johnny Giavotella, Kole Calhoun and Albert Pujols also visited with Mike and his family.

Before the game started, Mike practiced hitting in the team’s indoor batting tunnel and loved it so much he didn’t want to stop. It felt so good to be hitting a baseball again. Not only did he collect many autographs and photos, but he also threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game that night thanks to Chronic Tacos.

“Looking at him today you couldn’t tell what he’s been through,” Mike’s mother Kris said.

Now as a healthy 15-year-old, Mike plans on trying out for his high school baseball team when he starts there in the fall. His goal is to be a center fielder, “like Trout” he says.